Tony Docherty

Assistant Manager Tony Docherty spoke to the media after the game at Gayfield on Thursday night:

“It was a good night’s work.

“It was a little disappointing that we did not keep a cleansheet but we have put a lot of work into the boys, they had a very tough session yesterday so tonight is all part of the process. There is a purpose to every game and there was tonight. I thought first half and up to about the 70 minute mark there were a lot of good polished performances. So we are happy and it was a good exercise for us.

“As I say it is all part of the process and we go into the real stuff a week tonight. We are looking in good shape. We have another game on Sunday against Doncaster (closed doors) and we will get 90 minutes into the majority of the players. We will try and crank it up a notch again.

“We now know our opponents next week. We have had scouts at both games and the reports coming back are that Široki Brijeg deserved to go through. We have also watched both games through live feeds so we have seen a lot of them. We have done our work on them and done our analysis. They are a good side. They are a very functional well drilled team and it will be a difficult game. They have their strengths and they have won through against a decent side who are doing well in a league that we know after playing Kairat two years ago.

“They have got through on merit for their performances home and away.

“Technically they are good players and they know their system. Every player knows how to play within it. There is a good organisation about them. From watching them we know that we will need to be at our best to beat them.

“But we will be ready.

“We have done well in Europe in recent seasons but after going out in that third round the past three seasons, it makes us more motivated to do well. We were unlucky to go out against Maribor last year. We want to do well again this season but we are not looking any further ahead than Thursday night at Pittodrie.

“They are a tough opponent. A very competent team. We have to make sure we are ready and our fitness levels are where they need to be.

“The Aberdeen fans are fantastic on the European nights. The place seems to be louder on these occasions. It will be good to run out at Pittodrie with that support and we need them. We need to make it an intimidating place for any team to come and play.

“We are still working away and looking to bring in players. I am hopeful. The manager and Russ Richardson are busy at the moment. The players we want to sign are very specific targets and that sometimes can take a bit of time. We will stick to that policy though and look to bring in the right ones. We are very diligent with our work. We want to bring in the right players who can compliment what is already a fantastic squad.

“We are monitoring the Shaun Maloney situation. He was not in a position where he could start the season but we are still hopeful we can get something done with Shaun because he would be an asset to us. Unfortunately as he would not be in a position where he could start the season things are still on going. We still hope to have him at the club.

“The Stevie May situation is again one we need to monitor. Obviously a new manager has come in there which changes things a little bit but we are still on top of that.

“As I say we are very specific with the targets that we have got and I will keep them to myself but we know the players we want and know what they will add to the team.

“We will be linked with a lot of players (including Kari Arnason). We know who we are working on and what we are working with and we will continue to work that way until we get them.

“The names keep coming but as I say we are very aware of who our targets are and people will find out in due course. All I would say at this stage is that there is a lot of work going on in the background. It has to be the right players to compliment the fantastic squad we have got at the moment.”

“The names keep coming but as I say we are very aware of who our targets are and people will find out in due course. All I would say at this stage is that there is a lot of work going on in the background. It has to be the right players to compliment the fantastic squad we have got at the moment.”